Nucleic acids having expression differentials between hepatoblastoma and normal liver

ABSTRACT

A nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 in the Sequence Listing and a protein encoded by the nucleic acid, particularly a nucleic acid displaying differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween and a protein encoded by the nucleic acid as well as tumor detection utilizing the foregoing.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of International Application PCT/JP02/08580, filed Aug. 26, 2002, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which designated the U.S. and that International Application was not published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to nucleic acids having differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween.

BACKGROUND ART

Individual tumors exhibit distinct characteristic natures, and their biological properties are not necessarily identical even though the basic principle of oncogenesis is the same. Rapid advances in the understanding of cancer from a molecular biological and molecular genetic perspective in recent years have opened the way to an explanation of oncogenesis and tumor cell biology on the genetic level.

Hepatoblastoma is a malignant hepatoma occurring in infants with the highest frequency and 70% of the infants develop it before they reach two years of age. The infants who have been afflicted with hepatoblastoma generally experience a systemic decline in health and exhibit a large mass in the right upper abdomen. In hepatoblastoma if its detection is at an early stage, there will be some hope of long-term survival through chemotherapy and surgical operation. When the detection is late, complete cure will be difficult; therefore, early detection is desired.

AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) in blood is the only hepatoblastoma marker in the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma that has been known to date. Hepatoblastoma has thus been diagnosed by detection or quantification of AFP. However, it is known that the blood concentration of AFP rises not only in hepatoblastoma but also in hepatoma. There is also a drawback that its specificity is low and its values have sometimes been elevated in diseases other than hepatoblastoma or hepatoma (such as liver cirrhosis). Accordingly, AFP is insufficient for the use as a tumor marker specific for hepatoblastoma. A problem has existed that there is no other way but the ultimate collection of part of the carcinoma tissue followed by its pathological and histological diagnosis.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been made in light of the problem inherent in the above-stated prior art, and its object is to identify the genes displaying differential expression levels between hepatoblastoma and normal liver, and to allow the provision of their genetic information as well as the diagnosis of the tumor.

As a result of conducting diligent research in order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, the present inventors have succeeded in constructing cDNA libraries from both clinical tissues of human hepatoblastoma and normal liver. The genes of 6000 hepatoblastoma clones and 3000 normal liver clones from these two types of cDNA libraries were subjected to end sequencing and their expression profiles were analyzed.

Moreover, the present inventors found that some among the analyzed genes had differential expression levels between the hepatoblastoma clinical tissue and the normal liver clinical tissue and they made it possible to provide the base sequence information that would allow the detection and cloning of the genes.

Furthermore, based on the aforementioned base sequence information it has been made possible to design tumor markers which can be used for the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma, and this invention has thereupon been completed.

Specifically, the nucleic acid of this invention is a nucleic acid having differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween, the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing.

Here, the nucleic acid of the invention may be a nucleic acid comprising a portion of any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing.

Also, the nucleic acid of the invention may be an isolated nucleic acid characterized in that it hybridizes to the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing or its fragment, or its complementary nucleic acid under stringent conditions.

The probe for tumor detection of this invention is characterized in that it is a nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 in the Sequence Listing. Here, the probe for tumor detection may be a nucleic acid comprising a portion of said nucleic acid.

The probe for tumor detection of the invention may also be an isolated nucleic acid hybridizing to the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 in the Sequence Listing or its fragment, or its complementary nucleic acid under stringent conditions.

Further, the PCR primer for tumor detection of this invention is characterized by being able to amplify a nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 in the Sequence Listing.

Also, the marker protein for tumor detection of this invention is characterized in that it is a protein which can be encoded by a nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 in the Sequence Listing.

By utilizing the probe for tumor detection, the PCR primer for tumor detection, or the marker protein for tumor detection, the diagnoses of various tumors will be feasible.

Still further, the diagnostic agent for tumor detection of this invention contains at least one nucleic acid comprising a portion or the whole of any one of the base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:104 in the Sequence Listing. Specifically, such tumor detection diagnostic agents include DNA chips and microarrays both of which are produced using the above-mentioned nucleic acids, for example.

As used herein, as a tumor that is targeted by the probe for tumor detection, the PCR primer for tumor detection, the marker protein for tumor detection and the diagnostic agent for tumor detection, there may be mentioned liver cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer and the like, but the tumor is preferably hepatoblastoma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a figure corresponding to an electrophoregram showing an example of the results from differential screening by RT-PCR.

FIG. 2 is a figure corresponding to an electrophoregram showing another example of the results from differential screening by RT-PCR.

FIG. 3 is a figure corresponding to an electrophoregram showing a still further example of the results from differential screening by RT-PCR.

FIG. 4 is a figure corresponding to an electrophoregram showing an example of Plk-1 gene resulting from differential screening by RT-PCR.

FIG. 5 is a figure of Northern blotting in which the expression of Plk-1 was examined in a hepatoblastoma tissue and a normal liver tissue.

FIG. 6 is a Kaplan-Meier curve plot showing the survival rates of hepatoblastoma patients.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The term “nucleic acid(s)” as used in this invention refers to, for example, DNA or RNA, or polynucleotides derived therefrom which may be active as DNA or RNA, and preferably it refers to DNA and/or RNA.

The term “hybridize under stringent conditions” means that two nucleic acid fragments hybridize to each other under the hybridization conditions described by Sambrook, J. et al. in “Expression of cloned genes in E. coli,” Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (1989), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, USA, 9.47-9.62 and 11.45-11.61.

More specifically, the “stringent conditions” refers to hybridization at approximately 45° C. with 6.0× SSC, followed by washing at 50° C. with 2.0× SSC. The stringency may be selected by choosing a salt concentration in the washing step from approximately 2.0× SSC, 50° C. as low stringency to approximately 0.2× SSC, 50° C. as high stringency. Also, the temperature in the washing step may be increased from room temperature, or approximately 22° C. as low stringency conditions, to approximately 65° C. as high stringency conditions.

The term “isolated nucleic acid(s)” as used in the present specification refers to a nucleic acid or a polynucleotide containing substantially no cellular substances or culture medium, if prepared by recombinant DNA techniques, or containing substantially no precursor chemical substances or other chemical substances, if prepared by chemical synthesis.

The term, “marker protein for tumor detection” as used in this invention refers to a protein having an amino acid sequence that is endowed with the phenotype whose expression in a tumor cell or a tumor tissue allows the judgment on the tumor cell or the tumor tissue as to whether the tumor cell or the tumor tissue is derived from the tumor.

The nucleic acids of this invention will be first described.

The nucleic acid of this invention is a nucleic acid having differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween, the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing.

The nucleic acid of the invention may also be a nucleic acid comprising a portion of any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing.

Further, the nucleic acid of the invention may be a nucleic acid hybridizing to the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing or its fragment, or its complementary nucleic acid under stringent conditions. The base sequence is not particularly limited insofar as it satisfies this condition. Such base sequences specifically include a nucleic acid comprising deletions, substitutions, insertions or additions in some bases of the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 or its complementary nucleic acid thereof. As used herein, the deletion, the substitution, the insertion and the addition include not only a short deletion, substitution, insertion and addition with 1 to 10 bases, but also a long deletion, substitution, insertion and addition with 10 to 100 bases.

On the other hand, the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:80 to NO:102 in the Sequence Listing has been isolated as the gene having differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween similarly to the case of the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in the Sequence Listing. However, the former nucleic acid differs from the nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:79 in that it has been determined to have the same base sequence as does a known gene whose base sequence is already publicly disclosed during a homology search for its base sequence.

The nucleic acid comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:104 can be obtained from a clinical tissue of hepatoblastoma or normal liver. An example of the method for obtaining those nucleic acids will be described below.

CDNA libraries are first constructed from a hepatoblastoma clinical tissue and a normal liver clinical tissue according to a known method, and the base sequences of the genes cloned from the respective cDNA libraries are determined.

Primers for PCR are designed based on the determined base sequences, and the cDNA libraries derived respectively from the hepatoblastoma and the normal liver are used as templates to carry out PCR semi-quantitatively. Screening is conducted for the genes whose expression levels are differentially noted in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. Here, the semi-quantitative PCR may be performed according to a known method, and specifically, it may be performed by adjusting the concentration of cDNA, which serves as the template, and thereafter carrying out normal PCR. In this case, the PCR conditions may adequately be determined depending on the base numbers of primers for use or Tm values. The thus obtained PCR products may be electrophoresed on agarose gel or acryl amide gel and determination may be made as to whether there is a noted difference in the expression level between hepatoblastoma and normal liver. As for the method of screening a gene for which expression levels are different in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween, there may be mentioned a method of cloning genes from plural specimens based on the differential expression levels as an index, including differential display other than the method by differential screening as described above.

The thus obtained nucleic acids of this invention have been found as the genes having differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. Such nucleic acids are provided with the characteristics described below.

Hepatoblastoma is one of liver cancers that develops only at infancy and this suggests that the analysis of genes whose expression levels are enhanced or lowered therein provides information very useful for the understanding of the biology of hepatic cells. That is, the nucleic acids of this invention are the genes involved in the early phase of hepatic development, and at the same time, are the important genes involved in the proliferation and differentiation of hepatic cells, which can be mentioned as characteristics of the nucleic acids.

Hepatoblastoma is also characteristically a pediatric tumor, and because of the very low possibility of effects by acquired factors, it is expected that analysis of the mechanism of cancerization will also yield embryological information with high probability.

Furthermore, the nucleic acids of this invention are those for which differential expression levels are noted in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. Therefore, the nucleic acids can also be utilized as data for tumor markers to diagnose hepatoblastoma by detecting DNA and/or RNA having any of their base sequences and by detecting a protein encoded by the DNA.

In addition, it has been reported in recent years that there is anomaly in the Wnt signal transduction path in hepatoblastoma. Wnt is a notation originating in wingless which was found as one of the segment polarity genes of drosophila (Rijsewijk F. et al., Cell, 50: 649, 1987) and in int-1 which was identified in murine breast cancer (Nusse R. et al., Cell, 31: 99, 1982): similar genes are also included and generally termed “Wnt.”

Wnt shows time- and location-dependent expression at various phases in all animals including nematodes, insects, mice and humans; Wnt functions as an inducing factor of morphogenesis, a polarity-determining factor of cell and a modulating factor of proliferation and differentiation.

Further, in many cancers such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer and thyroid cancer, 20 to 30% of the cancers are knowingly due to the anomaly of Wnt signal. There has also been a report that a majority of such anomalies of the Wnt signal is caused by mutation in β-catenin gene (Jikken Igaku: Experimental Medicine Vol. 19, No. 6, 2001). Mutation in β-catenin at the somatic cell level is also noted in 65% of Japanese hepatoblastoma patients. Immunohistochemical staining recognizes the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin in approximately 85% of hepatoblastoma patients. These suggest that the anomaly of β-catenin or the anomaly in the Wnt signal is responsible for the crisis of hepatoblastoma.

It is also suggested that the Wnt signal transduction path is connected to oncogenesis since cancer suppressor genes such as APC (which is the causative gene of familial colorectal adenoma) are present in the path. Specifically, catenin existing in cytoplasm increases due to the anomaly in the Wnt signal transduction path and the catenin binds to transcription factor TCF/LEF, which is believed to contribute to oncogenesis.

The nucleic acid of this invention comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:104 in the Sequence Listing is in the group of genes for which differential expression levels are noted in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. The nucleic acid, therefore, is believed to be more or less involved in the anomaly in the Wnt signal. Accordingly, one or more genes in the gene group are analyzed for their expression levels and they can be used as markers for detection of any anomaly in the Wnt family or the Wnt signal transduction path in addition to as cancer markers for various cancers such as colorectal cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer, not to mention hepatoblastoma.

The nucleic acids of this invention further encompass a cancer gene known as Plk-1 (polo-like kinase-1). (Clay F. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA., 90: 4882-6, 1993.) Plk-1 displays noted differential expression levels in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween similarly to the case of the nucleic acid of the invention comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:101 and SEQ ID NO:103 to SEQ ID NO:104 in the Sequence Listing. The base sequence of Plk-1 is shown in SEQ ID NO:102 in the Sequence Listing (Gene Bank Accession No. X73458).

Thus, when the nucleic acid of the invention comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:104 in the Sequence Listing is used as a cancer marker, the cancer targeted for diagnosis is not particularly limited insofar as it is regarded as resulting from the anomaly in the Wnt signal, particularly the anomaly of β-catenin gene. Preferably, it is any of hepatoblastoma described above (to begin with), liver cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer. More preferably, it is any of hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), desmoid tumor, ovarian cancer, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and Willms' tumor.

As stated above, this invention will make it possible to obtain various kinds of information on hepatoblastoma or related thereto through the following means.

(1) Probes for Use in Hybridization

The nucleic acid comprising a portion or the whole of a base sequence disclosed in this specification (or which may be referred to as “nucleic acid(s) of the invention”) may be at least used as a probe for hybridization in order to detect genes expressed in human hepatoblastoma. The nucleic acids of the invention can also be used as probes for hybridization in order to determine gene expression in various tumors and normal tissues, to identify the distribution of the gene expression.

When the nucleic acid of the invention is used as a probe for hybridization, there are no particular limitations on the actual method of hybridization. As preferred methods there may be mentioned, for example, Northern hybridization, Southern hybridization, colony hybridization, dot hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in situ hybridization (ISH), DNA chip methods, and microarray methods.

As one application example of the hybridization, the nucleic acid of this invention can be used as a probe for Northern hybridization to measure the length of mRNA or to quantitatively detect gene expression in an assayed sample.

When the nucleic acid of the invention is used as a probe for Southern hybridization, it enables the detection of the presence or absence of the nucleic acid in the genomic DNA of an assayed sample.

The nucleic acid of the invention can also be used as a probe for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to identify the location of the gene on a chromosome.

The nucleic acid of the invention can also be used as a probe for in situ hybridization (ISH) to identify the tissue distribution of gene expression.

When the nucleic acid of the invention is used as a probe for hybridization, a base length of at least 40 is necessary; and among the nucleic acids of the invention, a nucleic acid having a base length of 40 or more contiguous bases is preferably used. More preferably, one having a base length of 60 or more bases is used.

Nucleic acid probe techniques are well known to one skilled in the art, and for example, conditions suitable for hybridization between a probe of specific length according to this invention and the target polynucleotide may be readily determined. In order to obtain hybridization conditions optimal to probes of various lengths, Sambrook et al. “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor (1989)” may be followed for such manipulations which are well known to one skilled in the art.

The probe of the invention is preferably labeled in an easily detectable fashion. The detectable label may be any type or portion which can be detected either visually or using devices. As commonly used detectable labels there may be mentioned radioactive isotopes such as ³²P, ¹⁴C, ¹²⁵I, ³H and ³⁵S Biotin-labeled nucleotides may be incorporated into DNA or RNA by nick translation, or chemical or enzymatic means. The biotin-labeled probes are detected after hybridization using labeling means such as avidin/streptavidin, fluorescent labels, enzymes, gold colloidal complexes or the like. The nucleic acid may also be labeled by binding with a protein. Nucleic acid cross-linked to a radioactive or fluorescent histone single-stranded DNA binding protein may also be used.

(2) Primers for use in PCR

For other possible methods of detecting target genes, a primer may be designed after any sequence contained in a nucleic acid of this invention and can be used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For example, RNA may be extracted from a sample to be assayed, and the gene expression can be semi-quantitatively measured by RT-PCR. Such method may be carried out by a technique well known to one skilled in the art. For example, “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,” (T. Maniatis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press) or Idenshibyo Nyumon [Introduction to Genetic Diseases] (Takahisa, S.: Nankodo Publishing) may be followed.

When a nucleic acid of this invention is used as a PCR primer, a base length of 10 to 60 is necessary; and among the nucleic acids of the invention, the nucleic acid having 10 to 60 contiguous bases is preferably used. More preferably, one having 15 to 30 bases is used. Generally, a primer sequence with a GC content of 40-60% is preferred. Also, there is preferably no difference in the Tm values of the two primers used for amplification. Preferably there is no annealing at the 3′ ends of the primers and no secondary structure is formed in the primers.

(3) Nucleic Acid Screening

The nucleic acid of this invention can also be used to detect the expression distribution of a target gene which is expressed in various tissues or cells. The detection of expression distribution of the target gene can be accomplished, for example, by using the nucleic acid of the invention as a probe for hybridization or as a primer for PCR.

The expression distribution of a gene can also be detected using a DNA chip, microarray or the like. That is, the nucleic acid of the invention may be directly attached to the chip or array. There is known a method by which nucleic acids or others (DNA) are spotted to a substrate for the purpose of attaching them to a chip or array by using a high-precision dispenser (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522). RNA extracted from a clinical tissue may be labeled with a fluorescent substance or the like, hybridized, and an analysis can be made of the type of tissue cells with high expression of the gene. The DNA attached to the chip or the array may be the reaction product of PCR using the nucleic acid of the invention or a fragment thereof. As an alternative method, the nucleic acid fragment of the invention (DNA fragment) may be directly synthesized on a substrate to form a DNA chip or a DNA array (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,186).

By utilizing the aforementioned technology, it is possible to use as a diagnostic agent, at least one among the nucleic acids of this invention. In recent years, it has becoming clear that the genetic information possessed by individuals governs their susceptibility to a certain disease as well as governs the effectiveness of a particular drug. The DNA chips or microarrays produced using the aforementioned nucleic acids may be used to clarify the cause-effect relationship between the disease of a subject and the nucleic acid, which will enable not only the diagnosis of that disease but also the selection of a drug to be administered. Specifically, if the result detected using the DNA chip or microarray is employed as an indicator of selection of a drug to be administered, the expression level of one nucleic acid among the nucleic acids of the invention can be examined, but also the expression levels of two or more nucleic acids can be comparatively examined to select the drug to be administered, which will then enable more accurate judgment. As used herein, the disease is not particularly limited insofar as it is that which can be diagnosed by the nucleic acids of this invention. The disease is preferably a cancer-related disorder, more preferably liver cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer, and most preferably hepatoblastoma.

(4) DNA Cloning

The nucleic acid of invention can be at least used for cloning a gene which is expressed in human hepatoblastoma. For example, by using the nucleic acid of the invention as a probe for Northern hybridization or colony hybridization, or as a primer for PCR, cloning of a gene containing the nucleic acid of the invention is possible.

(5) Methods of Diagnosing Tumor Prognosis and Tumor Markers to be Used Therefor

The nucleic acid of this invention can be used as a probe for hybridization, or as a primer for PCR to determine the presence or absence of enhancement in expression of the target gene in sample cells, which enables the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma. To determine the presence or absence of enhancement in the gene expression, any method that utilizes probes capable of hybridizing to any portion contained in the nucleic acid of the invention is provided for use. Specifically, a sample cell can be diagnosed as a cell derived from hepatoblastoma if the amount of nucleic acid hybridizing to the probe sequence in the sample cell is in accord with the expression profile of the probe. When the nucleic acid is used as a primer for PCR, RNA is extracted from the sample to be assayed and the gene expression can be semi-quantitatively measured by the RT-PCR method, for example.

According to another embodiment of this invention there are provided antisense oligonucleotides against the nucleic acids of the invention. The antisense oligonucleotides are capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acids of the invention, and include antisense DNAs and antisense RNAs. Antisense DNA inhibits transcription of mRNA from DNA, while antisense RNA inhibits translation of mRNA. Such antisense oligonucleotides may be synthesized using an automated synthesizer or by PCR using the nucleic acid of the invention as a template. The antisense oligonucleotides also encompass antisense oligonucleotide derivatives having improved binding affinity for DNA or mRNA, tissue selectivity, cell permeability, nuclease resistance and intracellular stability. Such derivatives may be synthesized using antisense technology known in the art.

Antisense oligonucleotides having sequences complementary to the sequences near the translation initiation codon of the mRNA, those of the ribosome-binding site, and those of the capping site or the splicing site are capable of inhibiting synthesis of the RNA and therefore will exhibit a particularly notable inhibitory effect on gene expression. This invention, therefore, encompasses such antisense oligonucleotides.

(7) Gene Therapy

According to a further embodiment of this invention, there are provided therapeutic genes to be used in gene therapy. As will be considered in practicing this invention, the nucleic acid encoding the gene according to this invention may be transferred into a vector for use in gene transportation, whereby the transgene can be expressed by an arbitrary expression promoter and can be used for the gene therapy of cancers, for example.

1. Vectors

The transferable viral vectors may be prepared from DNA viruses or RNA viruses. They may be any viral vector of an MoMLV vector, a herpes virus vector, an Adenovirus vector, an AAV vector, a HIV vector, a SIV vector, a Seidai virus vector and the like. One or more proteins among the constituent protein group of a viral vector are substituted by the constituent proteins of a different species of virus, or alternatively a part of the base sequence constituting genetic information is substituted by the base sequence of a different species of virus to form a viral vector of the pseudo-type which can also be used in this invention. For example, there is mentioned a pseudo-type viral vector wherein the Env protein (an envelop protein of HIV) is substituted by the VSV-G protein (an envelop protein of vesicular stomatitis virus or VSV) (Naldini L., et al., Science 272, 263-267, 1996). Further, a virus having a host spectrum other than human is usable as the viral vector insofar as it is efficacious. As for the vectors other than those of viral origin, there may be used complexes of calcium phosphate and nucleic acid, ribosomes, cation-lipid complexes, Seidai virus liposomes, polymer carriers having polycation as the backbone main chain and others. In addition, methods such as electroporation and gene guns may be used as a gene transfer system.

2. Expression Promoters

As for the expression cassettes to be used for the therapeutic gene, any cassettes without any particular limitations may be used insofar as they can cause genes to express in the target cells. One skilled in the art can readily select such expression cassettes. Preferably, they are expression cassettes capable of gene expression in the cells derived from an animal, more preferably, expression cassettes capable of gene expression in the cells derived from a mammal, and most preferably expression cassettes capable of gene expression in the cells derived from a human. The gene promoters that can be used as expression cassettes include: for example, virus-derived promoters from an Adenovirus, a cytomegalovirus, a human immunodeficiency virus, a simian virus 40, a Rous sarcoma virus, a herpes simplex virus, a murine leukemia virus, a sinbis virus, a hepatitis type A virus, a hepatitis type B virus, a hepatitis type C virus, a papilloma virus, a human T cell leukemia virus, an influenza virus, a Japanese encephalitis virus, a JC virus, parbovirus B19, a poliovirus, and the like; mammal-derived promoters such as albumin, SR α, a heat shock protein, and an elongation factor; chimera type promoters such as a CAG promoter; and the promoters whose expression can be induced by tetracyclines, steroids and the like.

(8) Marker Proteins for Detection of Hepatoblastoma

The protein encoded by the nucleic acid of this invention comprising any one of base sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:104 in the Sequence Listing can be used as a marker protein for hepatoblastoma by detecting the protein in blood or a liver tissue of a patient suspected of having hepatoblastoma or by measuring the expression level of the protein. Specifically, the protein in the blood collected from the patient may be detected according to a known method that is commonly used for protein detection.

As described above, the nucleic acid of this invention, the protein encoded by the nucleic acid, or the information obtained from the foregoing can be utilized to diagnose whether or not the clinical tissue to be an assayable sample has been derived from hepatoblastoma. The gene, the protein or the information obtained from the foregoing can be utilized to design a tumor marker useful for the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma.

EXAMPLES

This invention will now be explained in greater detail by way of the examples; however, the invention will not be restricted to those example.

Preparation Example 1 Clinical Tissue of Hepatoblastoma

The clinical tissues of hepatoblastoma and normal liver were provided by the tissue bank from JPLT (Japanese Pediatric Liver Tumor Study Group), which were used. The normal liver was prepared by extracting a normal portion of the same liver from which the hepatoblastoma tissue had been extracted. The patients were treated at different hospitals and facilities under the coordination of JPLT during 1991 to 2001. Tissue specimens were frozen during surgery and then preserved at −80° C. prior to use.

Preparation Example 2 Extraction of Total RNA from the Clinical Tissues of Hepatoblastoma and Normal Liver

Total RNA Extraction Kit (QIAGEN Inc.) was used to extract the total RNAs from the human hepatoblastoma clinical tissue and the normal liver clinical tissue. The extracted total RNAs were purified with phenol/chloroform, after which their concentrations were determined.

Example 1 Construction of cDNA Libraries

cDNA libraries were constructed from the total RNAs which had been prepared from the clinical tissues in Preparation Example 1, according to the oligo capping method (Suzuki et al., Gene. 1997 October 24; 200(1-2): 149-56). They were two libraries (HMFT and HYST) derived from a human hepatoblastoma tissue which secreted AFP, a library (HKMT) derived from a human hepatoblastoma tissue which did not secret AFP, and a library (HMFN) derived from the corresponding infant normal liver tissue. The obtained cDNA libraries were used for transformation into E. coli (TOP-10, Invitrogen Corporation).

Example 2 Analysis of Both End Sequences of cDNAs

With respect to the E. coli cell prepared in Example 1, approximately 3000 clones each were picked up from the three types of cDNA libraries derived from the hepatoblastoma and from one type of cDNA library derived from the normal liver and end-sequencing was performed. Plasmid DNAs were extracted from the picked up E. coli. cell and both end sequences of the cDNAs were determined using a DNA Sequencing Kit (ABI). Specifically, there were combined 600 ng of plasmid DNA, 8 μl of premix (kit accessory) and 3.2 pmol of primers, and sterile distilled water was added to a total of 20 μl. After denaturing the mixture at 96° C. for 2 minutes, a cycle of 96° C. for 10 seconds, 50° C. for 5 seconds and 60° C. for 4 minutes was repeated 25 times for reaction. The products were then purified by ethanol precipitation. Sequencing was carried out by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, using ABI377 (ABI).

Example 3 Homology Search Using Database

An Internet-mediated DNA sequence homology search was conducted for the cDNA samples of which the both end-sequences were analyzed in Example 2. The search was conducted using the BLAST of the NCBI (National Center of Biotechnology Information, USA). Primers were designed for the clones that turned out to be novel genes as a result of the homology search.

The results obtained through Examples 1-3 are summarized in Table 1.

TABLE 1 the number of genes with the number completed of novel the number both end genes cDNA library of clones sequencing (percentage) HMFT, HYST 6,000 5,126 323 (6.3%) HKMT 3,000 2,537 262 (10.3%) HMFN 3,000 2,768 262 (9.5%) total number 12,000  10,431  847 (8.1%)

Based on the obtained results from the homology search, the expression profiles of the known genes were compared between the hepatoblastoma tissue and the normal liver tissue. In both of the hepatoblastoma (HMFT and HYST in the presence of AFP) and the normal liver (HMFN), albumin was expressed most abundantly. Needless to indicate, in the former case AFP was expressed next to albumin; in the latter case cytochrome P450 was expressed next to albumin. The hepatoblastoma that did not secrete AFP (HKMT) and the hepatoblastoma that secreted AFP (HMFT and HYST) have different expression profiles. While Wnt inhibiting factor 1, which is a Wnt signal inhibiting factor 1, (Accession No. NM_(—)007191) and dickkopf-1 (Accession No. BC001539) were expressed in the former case, they were scarcely expressed in the latter case.

Example 4 Mutation Screening of β-Catenin

The mutation screening of β-catenin was carried out on the genomic DNAs obtained from the hepatoblastoma clinical tissue and the normal liver clinical tissue according to the method by Takayasu et al. (Takayasu et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2001, April; 7 (4): 901-908). Specifically, these genomic DNAs were used as templates to perform PCR that amplified a part of Exon 3 of β-catenin. The primers used were 5′-AAAAATCCAGCGTGGACAATGG-3′ (ex3-2f: SEQ ID NO:105) and 5′-TGTGGCAAGTTCTGCATCATC-3′ (ex3-2r: SEQ ID NO:106).

To conduct mutation screening for the coding region of β-catenin five kinds of primer sets described below were used to perform RT-PCR.

IDP1f: 5′-GAAAATCCAGCGTGGACAAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:107) IDP1r: 5′-CATCTGAGGAGAACGCATGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:108) IDP2f: 5′-TGCAATCCCTGAAACTGACAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:109) IDP2r: 5′-TCAGCACTCTGCTTGTGGTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:110) IDP3f: 5′-TACTGGCTAGTGGTGGACCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:111) IDP3r: 5′-AGTGGGATGGTGGGTGTAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:112) IDP4f: 5′-TGCAGTTCGCCTTCACTATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:113) IDP4r: 5′-GCAGTCTCATTCCAAGCCAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:114) IDP5f: 5′-GAAACGGCTTTCAGTTGAGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:115) IDP5r: 5′-CTCGACCAAAAAGGACCAGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:116)

For RT-PCR 30 μl of a mixed transcriptase solution containing 5 μg of total RNA prepared from the hepatoblastoma clinical tissue or the normal liver clinical tissue, 200 units of Superscript II reversetranscriptase (Life Technologies. Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.), 160 pmol of random primer (Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd.) was subjected to dissociation reaction at 65° C. for 15 minutes, after which incubation was carried out at 42° C. for 90 minutes. Subsequently, five kinds of primer sets described in Table 1 were, respectively, used to perform PCR. PCR was performed by subjecting a solution of 1 μM primer, 200 μM dNTPs, 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3), 1.5 mM MgCl₂, and 1 unit Taq Polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim AG.) to a 35-cylce reaction with one cycle of 94° C. for 15 seconds, 60° C. for 15 seconds and 72° C. for 45 seconds.

The PCR products were electrophoresed on 2% agarose gel or 5% polyacrylamide gel to analyze the presence or the absence of deletion mutation. Concurrently, sequencing was conducted on all the PCR products to determine point mutation.

Example 5 RT-PCR

Four kinds of samples (Cases 10, 58, 77 and 85) for which the mutation in β-catenin was observed in Example 4 and four kinds of samples (Cases 14, 67, 78 and 81) for which the mutation in β-catenin was not observed in Example 4 were subjected to RT-PCR and cDNAs were synthesized, which were to be used as templates for later differential screening. RT-PCR was performed using a SuperScript II kit (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Specifically, a solution containing 5 μg of RNA, 2 μl of random primers (10 μg/μl), and DEPC water added as required was incubated at 65° C. for 15 minutes and was placed on ice after reaction was completed. To this solution was added a mixed solution containing 6 μl of 5× buffer, 1 μl of 0.1 mM DTT, 7.5 μl of dNTPs and 1 μl of SuperScript II per sample. Reaction was allowed at 42° C. for 2 hours and then 95° C. for 5 minutes.

The prepared cDNAs were diluted 50-fold with DDW and then concentrations were adjusted with GAPDH primers. The base sequences of the GAPDH primers were as follows: 5′-ACCTGACCTGCCGTCTAGAA-3′ (forward: SEQ ID NO:117) and 5′-TCCACCACCCTGTTGCTGTA-3′ (reverse: SEQ ID NO:118). To 1 μl of cDNA were added each 5 μl of 10 μM the forward primer and the reverse primer, 1 μl of dNTPs, 6 μl of DDW, and 0.1 μl of rTaq polymerase, respectively, whereby a mixed solution was prepared. A 27-cylce PCR was performed at 95° C. for 15 seconds, 58° C. for 15 seconds and 72° C. for 20 seconds. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel for 20 minutes to determine the concentrations.

Consequently, the samples diluted 50-fold with DDW were respectively further diluted to be almost even concentrations: 6-fold in Case 14t (hepatoblastoma), 2-fold in Case 14h (normal liver), 5-fold in Case 67t, 6-fold in Case 67h, 10-fold in Case 78t, 12-fold in Case 78h, 8-fold in Case 81t, 9-fold in Case 81h, 2-fold in Case 10t, 1-fold in Case 10h, 20-fold in Case 58t, 4-fold in Case 58h, 15-fold in Case 77t, 6-fold in Case 85t, and 2-fold in Case 85h.

Example 6 Differential Screening

Primers were designed for novel genes obtained from the cDNA libraries and differential screening was conducted using 8 pairs (or 16 samples) with the adjusted concentrations. For the reaction solution of PCR, to 1 μl of cDNA were mixed 10 μM of the forward and reverse primers respectively in 5 μl and 1 μl of 10× reaction buffers, 1 μl of dNTPs, 6 μl of DDW, and 0.1 μl of rTaq polymerase, which mixed solution was used. As for PCR annealing temperature, the reaction was subjected to PCR at three levels of annealing temperatures (57° C., 59° C. and 61° C.) and in 35 cycles, and then, the temperature at which the deepest color band appeared was employed as the annealing temperature of the primer. When no band appeared, the conditions were examined in a similar manner by subjecting the reaction to 40 cycles. Thus, the respective annealing temperatures and cycle numbers for the primers were determined.

PCR was performed at the thus determined annealing temperature. The PCR products obtained were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel for 20 minutes and were stained with ethidium bromide, whereby the band concentrations were compared between the hepatoblastoma and the normal liver of the same patient.

FIG. 1 shows one example of the electrophoresis patterns for four types of genes for which differential expression levels are noted in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. FIGS. 2 and 3 show other examples. The expression level of each gene is normalized against the expression of GAPDH. In each figure Lane N corresponds to a normal liver tissue and Lane T corresponds to a hepatoblastoma tissue. However, Case 77 corresponds to a hepatocellular carcinoma tissue.

As the table below shows, in not less than 5 cases out of 8 cases reproducibility was confirmed on the genes for which strong expression had been observed in the hepatoblastoma (regardless of the β-catenin mutation) or the normal liver. The genes for which reproducibility was confirmed were judged to be the genes having differences in hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween. In the tables below N<T shows that expression is high in the hepatoblastoma tissue; N>T shows that expression is high in the normal liver tissue; and N=T shows that the expression levels are almost the same in the hepatoblastoma tissue and the normal liver tissue.

TABLE 2 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HKMT0647 N < T N < T N < T N < T N < T N = T N < T N < T N < T in 7 cases — — HKMT1098 N > T N = T N < T N < T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 5 cases — — HKMT1188 N < T N < T N = T N < T N < T N < T N < T N > T N < T in 6 cases — —

TABLE 3 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HMFN0044 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 6 cases — — HMFN0320 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases — — HMFN0376 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 59 40 HMFN0601 N < T N < T N > T N < T N < T N < T N = T N > T N < T in 5 cases 57 35 HMFN0656 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 6 cases 59 40 HMFN0672 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N < T in 6 cases 57 35 HMFN0883 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N < T in 5 cases — — HMFN1045 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N < T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFN1187 N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 7 cases — — HMFN1249 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N < T N > T N > T N < T in 5 cases — — HMFN1655 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFN1661 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 7 cases 57 40 HMFN1864 N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFN1876 N = T N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 5 cases 59 40 HMFN2073 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N = T N > T N < T in 5 cases — — HMFN2121 N > T N > T N > T N < T N > T N = T N = T N > T N < T in 5 cases — — HMFN2567 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T in 6 cases — — HMFN2729 N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N < T in 6 cases — —

TABLE 4 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HMFT0128 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 57 40 HMFT0141 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 61 40 HMFT0656 N > T N < T N > T N < T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 6 cases — — HMFT0673 N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFT0700 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 61 35 HMFT1272 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N = T N > T N > T in 6 cases 61 40 HMFT1488 N < T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFT1638 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFT1716 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T in 7 cases 61 35 HMFT1766 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 6 cases 57 35 HMFT2263 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 40 HMFT2489 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N = T N > T in 5 cases 57 35

TABLE 5 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HYST0269 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 57 35 HYST0281 N < T N < T N < T N > T N < T N < T N < T N < T N < T in 7 cases 57 40 HYST1031 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N < T N = T N > T in 6 cases — — HYST1046 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 57 40 HYST1888 N = T N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 5 cases — — HYST2056 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T in 6 cases — — HYST2477 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 6 cases 57 35 HYST2623 N < T N < T N < T N = T N < T N < T N = T N = T N < T in 5 cases — —

TABLE 6 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HMFT1163 N = T N < T N < T N < T N > T N < T N > T N > T — — — HMFT1345 N = T N < T N < T N < T N > T N = T N > T N > T — — —

In not less than 3 cases out of 4 cases where no mutation was observed in the β-catenin gene differential expressions were noted and in not less than 3 cases out of 4 cases where mutation was observed in the β-catenin gene differential expressions were noted in a manner opposite to the foregoing cases where no mutation was observed. Such genes were judged to have differential expressions depending on the presence of the β-catenin mutation (Table 6). That is, the genes described in Table 6 show such genotype that N<T holds when no mutation was observed in β-catenin and N>T holds when mutation was observed in β-catenin.

TABLE 7 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HKMT0020 N < T N < T N > T N < T N < T N < T N < T N = T N < T in 7 cases 57 35 HKMT1013 N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T in 5 cases 57 35 HKMT0359 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N < T in 6 cases 57 35

TABLE 8 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HFMN0043 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 40 HFMN0077 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HFMN0549 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N = T N > T in 6 cases 57 35 HFMN1050 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases — — HFMN2802 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases — —

TABLE 9 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HMFT N < T N < T N < T N < T N = T N < T N = T N < T N < T in 6 cases 61 40 HMFT N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 61 35 HMFT N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T in 6 cases 59 35 HMFT N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 6 cases 57 35 HMFT N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 61 40 HMFT N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFT N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T in 6 cases 61 40 HMFT N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T in 5 cases 61 35 HMFT N > T N < T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 7 cases 57 35 HMFT N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 59 35 HMFT N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T in 8 cases 59 35

TABLE 10 annealing case14 case67 case78 case81 case10 case58 case77 case85 total temperature cycle HYST0078 N < T N < T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T in 5 cases 57 35 HYST2010 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N = T N > T N > T in 6 cases 57 35 HYST2465 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T in 5 cases 59 35

TABLE 11 clone Acc. No. gene HKMT0020 NM_006325 Homo sapiens RAN, member RAS oncogene family (RAN), mRNA HKMT0359 NM_005079 Homo sapiens tumor protein D52 (TPD52), mRNA HKMT1013 HM_000598 Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), mRNA HMFN0043 X03178 Human mRNA for group-specific component (GC) HMFN0077 K01763 Human haptoglobin alpha(1S)-beta precursor, mRNA HMFN0722 AF153821 Homo sapiens alcohol dehydrogenase beta2 subunit mRNA, complete cds HMFN1050 D45045 Human DNA for ceruloplasmin, exon 19 HMFN2802 XM_006765 Homo sapiens microsomal NAD+-dependent retinol dehydrogenase 4 (RODH-4), mRNA HMFT0048 X73458 H. sapiens plk-1 mRNA HMFT0306 D49742 Human mRNA for HGF activator like protein, complete cds HMFT0550 AF171237 Homo sapiens clone A2-53-73 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH3) mRNA, alternatively spliced, complete cds HMFT0609 AF052153 Homo sapiens clone 24441 cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase mRNA, partial cds HMFT0716 X14174 Human mRNA for liver-type alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) HMFT0844 AF177775 Homo sapiens egasyn mRNA, complete cds HMFT1154 Z28339 H. sapiens mRNA for delta 4-3-oxosteroid 5 beta-reductase HMFT1198 M13755 Human interferon-induced 17-kDa/15-kDa protein mRNA, complete cds HMFT1264 M81349 H. sapiens serum amyloid A protein mRNA, complete cds HMFT1599 X56692 H. sapiens mRNA for C-reactive protein HMFT1603 L21893 Human Na/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide mRNA, complete cds HYST0078 L32179 Human arylacetamide deacetylase mRNA, complete cds HYST2010 X03168 Human mRNA for S-protein HYST2465 S82800 IHRP = inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein/major acute phase serum protein [swine, liver, mRNA Partial, 2952 nt]

The genes described in Tables 7-10 are known genes. Table 11 describes the names of genes for which homologies to the named genes were recognized as a result of homology search.

The genes described in Table 12 are also novel and are genes for which differential expression levels are noted hepatoblastoma and normal liver based on comparison therebetween in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria. The full length of each of these genes was not sequenced except for HMFN0839. However, as a result of both end sequencing and homology search, they were found to have homology to the respective known genes shown in Table 13.

TABLE 12 Case14 Case67 Case78 Case81 Case10 Case58 Case77 Case85 HMFN0217 N = T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T HMFN0668 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T HMFN0839 N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T HMFN2700 N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N = T N > T HKMT2698 N > T N = T N > T N = T N > T N = T N > T N > T HYST2198 N < T N < T N < T N < T N = T N > T N < T N > T HYST2935 N < T N < T N < T N = T N < T N < T N = T N = T HMFT1511 N > T N = T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T N > T

TABLE 13 clone length Acc. No. gene HMFN0217f 510 AP000356 Homo sapiens genomic DNA, chromosome 22q11.2, clone KB1995A5 HMFN0668f 666 548898|sp| SARA_MOUSE GTP-binding P36536 protein SARA HMFN0668r 597 AW976405 EST388514 MAGE resequences, MAGN Homo sapiens cDNA, mRNA sequence HMFN0839f 531 T24032 hypothetical protein R07E3.5 Caenorhabditis elegans HMFN0839r 607 BE349224 Homo sapiens cDNA clone HMFN2700f 429 HKMT2698f 420 AR083267 Sequence 19 in U.S. Pat. No. 5976837 HKMT2698r 517 AR083267 Sequence 19 in U.S. Pat. No. 5976837 HYST2198f 484 AK024066 Homo sapiens cDNA FLJ14004 fis., clone Y79AA1002351 HYST2935f 564 BF345917 Homo sapiens cDNA clone 602017918F1 HMFT1511f 401 AW786459 Sus scrofa cDNA 5′, mRNA sequence HMFT1511r 466 AP000359 Homo sapiens genomic DNA, chromosome 22q11.2, clone KB63E7

Example 7 Differential Screening of Plk-1

Similarly to Example 6, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression of Plk-1 was confirmed in 8 pairs (16 samples). Results are shown in FIG. 4. Here, the expression levels of the Plk-1 gene were normalized against the expression of GAPDH. In the figure Lane N corresponds to the normal liver tissue and Lane T corresponds to the hepatoblastoma. However, Case 77 corresponds to the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. The expression level of Plk-1 was clearly greater in the tumor tissue than in the normal tissue.

Example 8 Northern Blotting

Total RNA (25 μg) was prepared from human hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver according to a conventional method (Chomczynski P., Sacchi N., Anal. Biochem., 162: 156-9, 1987). This was electrophoresed on 1% agarose gel containing formaldehyde and fixed through UV cross-linking. Hybridization was conducted in the presence of a human Plk-1 cDNA fragment labeled with α-³²P-dCTP Random (976 bases) using random priming: 65° C. in a solution containing 1M NaCl, 1% SDS, 7.5% dextran sulfate, 100 μg/ml thermally denatured salmon serum. Results are shown in FIG. 5. In the figure 67t, 93t and 58t are the human hepatoblastoma tissue and 67h, 93h and 58h are the corresponding normal liver tissues, 77t is the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue, and 77h is the corresponding normal liver tissue. It is understood that the expression of Plk-1 is higher in both the human hepatoblastoma and the hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than the normal liver tissue.

Example 9 Statistical Analysis of Prognosis

A Kaplan-Meier analysis of 59 cases of hepatoblastoma patients was attempted using the expression levels of Plk-1 as indices around the central value of Plk-1 expression level=13. The results of analysis are shown in FIG. 6. The patients with high Plk-1 expression showed more unfavorable prognosis than do the patients with low PLk-1 expression. The survival rate of the former group is 55.9% while that of the latter group is 87.0% (with statistical significance being p=0.042). Therefore, it has been demonstrated that the expression level of the Plk-1 gene is an excellent marker for the diagnosis of prognosis of human hepatoblastoma.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, this invention discloses gene sequences displaying differential expression levels between hepatoblastoma and normal liver and will enable the provision of their genetic information and the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma by utilizing the nucleic acids and proteins according to the invention derivable from the genetic information as probes and PCR primers. 

1. An isolated nucleic acid consisting of SEQ ID NO:56. 